Friday, August 3, 2007

ROCCO DELUCA & THE BURDEN"I Trust You to Kill Me"Ironworks

ROCCO DELUCA WAS the first act signed to Ironworks Music, the record label co-founded by Emmy-winning actor Kiefer Sutherland and '80s Brit-pop star Jude Cole. Cole produced "I Trust You to Kill Me," a debut album credited to Rocco DeLuca & the Burden, though only two of the 12 tracks feature all four band members. Sutherland agreed to star in Manu Boyer's documentary film of the same name; the actor became the road manager for Rocco DeLuca & the Burden's first tour of Europe, and the mixture of inexperience and ambition on everyone's part fueled the resulting misadventures.

The disc reveals an artist whose sound is more interesting than his songs. The contrast between DeLuca's piercing, sliding dobro notes and his bluesy, insistent tenor is entrancing, especially when wrapped inside Cole's psychedelic-blues production. The bohemian, rootsy arrangements, alternately lean and grandiose, often recall Jeff Buckley and Chris Whitley. Less interesting are lyrics that resemble random journal jottings and melodies that echo too many hours listening to classic-rock radio.

But when the singer confesses his love for a woman on "Mystified" or "Colorful," his vocals are so compelling and his backing music so inventive that one can hardly wait for him to further hone his craft and make his next album.

-- Geoffrey Himes

Appearing Tuesday at the Recher Theatre and Wednesday at the State Theatre.